Fastest 3D-printed robot
- Who
- Duncan W. Haldane, Ronald S. Fearing, UC Berkeley, X2-VelociRoACH
- What
- 4.9 metre(s) per second
- Where
- United States (Berkeley)
- When
- 22 May 2015
In May 2015, engineers at UC Berkeley (USA) built a robotic cockroach using specially 3D-printed components. Because these parts can bend and stretch without breaking, the X2-VelociRoACH can zip around at a blistering 4.9 m/s – that’s between an average human’s jogging and running speed. Catching up quickly, however, is the Ollie from Orbotix: this can roll around at 4.26 m/s, and is also made from 3D-printed parts.
The X2-VelociRoACH uses a technique called "hyper scuttling", which involves making lots of very fast, very small strides. The speed of the little robot is limited by the strength of the fibreglass legs. The motors can go faster, but the legs disintegrate.